Electric cigar lighter



U Nov. 24, 1942.l A. A. .loHNscaN 2,302,775

ELECTRIC C IGAR LIGHTER Filed Nov. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l lll/1111111, 'lll/11111147. .r11/1 www: (71,

IN VENT OR Nov. 24, 1942. A. A. JOHNSON 2,302,775

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Nov. 8., 1934 & 2 Smets-Sheet 2 lllIlllllllllll/l lill/1111111111 u Patented Nov. 24, 1942 ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Arthur A. Johnson, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner to Automatic Devices Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut I Application November 8, 1.934, Serial No. 752,084

(Cl. 21B-32) 25 Claims.

This invention relates to electric cigar-lighters, and more particularly, to the type of lighter which is completely removable from the base or holding device for use.

With this type of cigar-lighter, the igniting unit is in normal position on the holding device in the open-circuit relation thereto. When it is desired to use the lighter, the igniting unit is moved relative to the holding device to an energizing position where the circuit from the heating element is closed. Usually it is held by hand in this position until the heating element is incandescent and ready for use.

An object of this invention is to provide an electric cigar-lighter of the type referred to in which the igniting unit will be held in energizing position automatically for a predetermined time during which the heating element is brought to incandescence for use.

In the form of the invention herein illustrated, this is accomplished by latching the igniting unit in energizing position against the tendency of a spring to return it to open-circuit position and at the same time exhausting air from a chambery and then allowing the air to gradually enter the chamber so that the air may expand and finally release the latch.

A feature of this invention is the provision of means whereby the igniting unit will be moved to non-energizing position when the heating element attains a predetermined temperature if the igniting unit should fail to return under the control of said time-controlled means.

This is accomplished in the form of the invention herein illustrated, by providing a thermostatic device in heat conducting relation to the igniting unit and causing the thermostat to open the air chamber to the atmosphere and allow the igniting unit to move to energizing position.

This is a particularly important feature, for, with a time-controlled device, the operator may hold the igniting unit in energizing position and initiate the heating of the coil. After its manual release the igniting unit would remain in energizing position for a predetermined length of time controlled by the time-controlled mechanismy and this might cause the heating coil to overheat and burn out. With the provisions of the present invention, should the heating element tend to overheat, the thermostatic safety device will open the air chamber and permit the chamber to rapidly expand and allow the igniting unit to return to non-energizing position.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the `cigar-lighter of the present invention, showing the igniting unit in normal inactive position on the holding device.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the head or button of the igniting unit partially depressed A to exclude the air from the time control mechacompletely depressed, and showing the igniting unit locked in energizing position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. l and 2, but

showing the heating element locked in energizing position and the time control mechanism partially returned to normal position and about to release the heating element which by this time has been brought to incandescence for use.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the igniting unit partially broken laway to show one of the relief valves to permit exclusion of the air between the cylinder and piston of the time control mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the igniting unit of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a view of the inner end of the igniting unit body showing a thermostatically controlled valve.

Fig. 8 is an exploded View partially in section of the inner end of the igniting unit, showing in detail the feature shown in Fig. '7.

The present invention in the form illustrated herein as vexemplary thereof, has a shell-like holding device I0, the forward end of which eX- tends through a suitable support such as an instrument board Il and is threaded to receive a clamping ring I2 and a lock nut I3 by means of which it is held in position on the support II. The rear end of the shell is closed by a head I4 over which there is located an insulating block I5 supporting contact arms I6. These arms are integral and are held in the head by a screw I1, the end of which has nuts I8 for securing a terminal I9 of a current supply wire. When the cigar-lighter is used on the instrument board of an automobile, the board being grounded, current is conducted to the shell IIJ through the ground connections.

The igniting unit of the present invention is completely removable from the holding device for use. It comprises a heating element 20 supported on the end of a cylinder 2| which may be of metal or insulating material as desired. The sleeve 2I has a sliding t in the shell I0 and when it is moved inwardly as far as it will go, it carries the heating element 2U toward the contacts I6 so that a ferrule 22 on the heating element electrically engages the Contact arms I6 and connects the outer convolution of a heating coil 23 to the terminal I S. This movement of the igniting unit cylinder 2| is resisted by a spring 24 located between the end of the igniting unit and the insulating block l5, and the tendency of the spring is to return the heating element from the energizing position shown in Fig. 3 to the normal position shown in Fig. l. Usually, the cylinder 2| or its equivalent is moved from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 3, and held there manually until the heating element becomes incandenscent and is ready for use.

According to the present invention, the heating element is held in its energizing position (shown in Fig. 3) automatically, and for this purpose there is provided a latch 25 secured at its rear end to the shell Ifl and having a projection or tooth 26 in position to engage the front end 2! of the cylinder 2| as shown in Fig. 3, the latch being made of resilient material so as to spring into the position shown in Fig. 3 when the forward end of the cylinder 2| occupies the position shown in that ngure.

To move the igniting unit cylinder 2| from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, there is provided a piston 28 slidable Within the cylinder 2| and having a shoulder 29 engaging the end 2'! of the cylinder 2|. The piston 28 has at its forward end a head or button 3D of any suitable material. When the button 30 is pushed inwardly to the end of its movement, the shoulder 29 engages and moves the cylinder 2| to carry the heating element into engagement with the contact |6.

In moving from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the piston 28, which has a sliding nt with the cylinder 2|, expels the air in the chamber C between the end of the piston and the end of the cylinder through one or more openings 3| in the end wall 32 of the cylinder, which action is permitted because the valves 33, (see Fig. which are riveted to the end wall 32 of the cylinder, and resiliently close the ports 3|, will yield and permit the passage of air from the chamber C.

t the same time that the air in expelled from the chamber C, a spring 34, located in a tube 35 secured to the end of the piston 28, is placed under compression as shown in Fig. 2, the spring being confined between the end of the tube 35 and the end of a plug 35 carried by the end wall 32 of the cylinder 2|.

Accordingly, when the button 3U is manually released after the parts have been moved to the positions shown in 3, the spring 34 tends to move the piston 28 to the right as shown and may do so as quickly as air is allowed to enter thfe chamber C. rEhe quantity of air which may enter the chamber C may be determined by the clearance between the cylinder and piston, or may be regulated in any suitable way. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder may be provided with an inlet opening 3l', the size of which is controlled by a set screw 38 and the regulation of the screw 38 will determine the length of time it requires for the piston and cylinder to completely eX- pand,

As the piston moves outwardly under the inuence of the spring 34, an annular rib 39 on the piston approaches and engages a projecting portion lo on the latch spring 25 as shown in Fig. 4. A continued movement of the piston 28 to the right will cause the spring 25 to be depressed and the lug 26 thereon to disengage the end 21 of the cylinder, whereupon the spring 24 is free to return the igniting unit as a whole from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to that shown in Fig. l.

It will be noted that the movement of the cylinder and piston is gradual but that the movement of the heating element 2U away from the Contact springs I will be sudden, and therefore the circuit will be quickly opened and the drawof an arc from the contacts l5 to the heating element ferrule 22 will be avoided.

To limit the movement of the piston outwardly of the cylinder under the influence of the spring the plug 3G is provided with an extension rod l carrying a stop flange 42 held in position by nuts 43. Therefore, when the igniting unit is to beremoved from the holding device after it is in condition for use, pulling movement on the button 31') will cause ie entire igniting unit to be from the holding device.

As above pointed out, current is supplied to 'the outer convolution of the heating element from the wire lug |51 through the contacts I6 which are made to yield so that the end 21 on the cylinder 2i may sufficiently pass the latch The inner convolution of the heating element is connected to a post 44 threaded in the plug which in turn has sliding engagement witl: the tube threaded in the piston 28, all of which connections are metallic and conduct current to the inner convolution of the heating coil. The piston 28 has a flange 45 having sliding engagement with the shell ID which, as stated, is connected to the instrument board, and thus current is conducted from the ground 'through the instrument board, shell I2, and piston 23 to the heating element.

It will thus be seen that thepresent invention provides means for moving the heating element out of energizing position after apredetermined time. This time is regulated and dete` dined so that the heating element will be incandescent and ready for use when the igniting unit moves from the position shown in Fig. 3.

It may be that the person using the device instead of depressing the button 33 to the limit of its movement and immediately releasing the same might hold the button depressed for some time during which the heating element would be energized and begin to heat. Upon releasing the button, the time control means would begin to function and the result would be that the i eating element was maintained in energizing position a greater length of time than is desirable with the attendant danger of becoming overheated and possibly burning out.

To avoid this, the present invention provides means for quickly admitting air to the chamber C when the heating element reaches a predetermined temperature. Means for this purpose is shown in Figs. '7 and 8, wherein the ap valve 5 is made of biinetallic material. The material employed is so chosen and the length of the flap so calibrated that the valve 4G does not uncover the outer port 3| when the heating element is brought to normal incandescence for use but will move uncover' the port 3| when the temperature of the heating element exceeds a predetermined value. Vfhen the valve 4S uncovers the port 3 |Y air is rapidly admitted to the chamer C and the heating element is moved to nonenergizing position.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used Without others,

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire to obtain Letters-Patent isl., An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; manually operable means for closing a circuit to said heating element; means including fluid-operated timing means for automatically opening said circuit a predetermined time after said circuit is manually closed; and auxiliary means for opening the circuit in response to the temperature of the heating element.

2. An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the hold-- ing device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; cooperating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; means for retaining said igniting unit in circuit-closing position; means includingr fluid operated timing means to release said retaining means for auto- `matically opening said circuit a predetermined time after said circuit is manually closed; and auxiliary means for opening the circuit in response to the temperature of the heating element.

3. An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; co-

operating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and fbeing manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; a latch for holding the igniting unit in. energized position; a spring tending to return the igniting unit to non-energized position; a cylinder and piston from which air is expelled during the movement of the igniting unit to energized position; means tending to separate the cylinder and piston; an

air inlet permitting air to gradually enter between the cylinder and piston; and means on said piston to engage and release said latch when the piston has moved outwardly of the cylinder a predetermined amount and permit the igm'ting unit to move to non-energized position in which the circuit through the heating element is opened.

4. An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said -igniting unit including a heating element; co-

operating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; a latch for lholding the igniting unit in energized position;

a spring tending to return the igniting unit to non-energized position; a cylinder and piston from which air is expelled during the movement of the igniting unit to energized position; means tending to separate the cylinder and piston; an

vair inlet permitting air to gradually enter be' 'tween the cylinder and piston; means on said piston to engage and release said latch when the piston has moved outwardly of the cylinder y a predetermined amount and permit the igniting i device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; co-

operating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; means for retaining said igniting unit in circuit-closing position; time-controlled means for automatically opening said circuit and returning said igniting unit to normal open position; and means in heat-1 conducting relation with said heating element for causing said igniting unit to be moved to normal open-circuit position when the heating element has been brought to a predetermined temperature.

6. An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; co operating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having a normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open and being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close the circuit through said heating element; means for retaining said igniting unit in circuit-closing position.; pneumatic time-controlled means for auto matically opening said circuit and returning said igniting unit to normal open circuit position; and thermostatic means in heat-conducting rela-- tion With said heating element for causing sai-:l igniting unit to be moved to normal open-circuit position when the heating element has been brought to a predetermined temperature.

'7. An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holdn ing device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; cooperating contacts on the holding device and igniting unit for closing a circuit including said heating element, said igniting unit having normal position on the holding device in which said circuit through said heating element is open being manually movable to position to cause said cooperating contacts to engage and close circuit through said heating element; a latch for holding the igniting unit in energized posi*- tion; a spring tending to return the igniting unit to non-energized position; time-controlled means for automatically releasing said latch; and therinostatic means in heat-conducting relation with said heating element for automatically releasing said latch when the heating element has been brought to a predetermined temperature.

8. An electric cigar-lighter having a holding device and an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; manually operable means for closing a circuit to said heating element; means independent of the heat produced by the heating element for automatically opening said circuit a predetermined time after said circuit is manually closed; and means in heat-conducting relation with said heating element for automatically opening said circuit when the heating element has been brought to a predetermined temperature.

An electric cigar-lighter as in claim l, wherein said timing means includes a fluid cha l.- ber within which fluid is compressed on operation of said manually operable means, and a valve permitting loss of compression by said fluid at a slower rate than the rate of compression thereof.

i0. An electric cigar-lighter as in claim 1, wherein said timing means includes a fluid chamber within which fluid is compressed cn operation of said manually operable means, and a valve permitting loss of compression by said fluid at a slower rate than the rate of compression thereof, there also being means including a thermostat for causing such compression loss at a faster rate following attainment by said heating unit of a certain temperature.

11. In a cigar lighter, a base; a member mounted on the base for movement relatively thereto; means for yieldingly urging said member to a given normal position relatively to the base; manually engageable means, to move said member to a second position relatively to the base, against the urging of said yielding means; means controlling the speed of said member in returning to its normal position under the urging of said yielding means. to delay the completion of said return a predetermined time; a second movable member relatively movable to but operatively connected with the first and moved thereby to a given circuit-closing position when said first member is moved against the urging of said yielding means; means for holding said second member in its circuit-closing position; a heating element; means for closing a circuit through the heating element when the second member is in said circuit-closing position; and means for moving said second member to its initial position, to open the circuit through the heating element, when the said first member completes its return to normal position andi releases the holding means.

12. In a cigar lighter, a base; a member mounted on the base for movement relatively hereto; means for yieldingly urging said member to a given normal position relatively to the base; manually engageable means, to move said member to a second position relatively to the base, against the urging of said yielding means; means controlling the speed of said member in returning to its normal position under the urging of said yielding means, to delay the completion of said return a predetermined time; a second movable member relatively movable to but operatively connected with the first and moved thereby to a given circuit-closing position when said first member is moved against Cal the urging of said yielding means; means for holding said second 'member in its circuit-closing position; a heating element; means for closing a circuit through the heating element when the second member is in said circuit-closing position; means for moving said second member to its initial position, to open the circuit through the heating element, when the said first member completes its return to normal position and releases the holding means; and means to govern the speed-controlling means for said first member whereby the time required by said member in returning to its normal position may be varied.

13. In a cigar lighter, a holder having a contact therein; a heating element carried by the holder; means for closing a circuit thtrough the contact in the holder for energizing the heating element, comprising a pair of telescoping elements, one of said elements carrying a contact; manual means for moving the telescopic elements in the holder into circuit-closing position; yieldable means mounted in the holder for normally resisting said movement; means for retaining the contact-carrying element in circuitclosing position; yieldable means interposed between the telescoping elements whereby there may be relative movement between said telescoping elements; and means for releasing said retaining means whereby the contact-carrying element is moved to open the circuit.

14. In a cigar lighter, a holder having a contact therein; a heating element carried by the holder; means for closing a circuit through the contact in the holder and the heating element for energizing the heating element, comprising a pair of telescoping elements, one of said elements carrying a contact; manual means for moving the telescoping elements into circuitclosing position; spring means mounted in the holder lor normally resisting said movement; means for retaining the contact-carrying element in circuit-closing position; spring means interposed between the telescoping elements whereby there may be relative movement between said telescoping elements; and heat-responsive means for releasing said retaining means whereby the contact-carrying element is moved to open the circuit.

15. In an electric cigar lighter having a holding device; an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting Lmit including a heating element; manually operable means for closing a circuit to said heating element; and means including pneumatic timing means having a plurality of ports for automatically opening said circuit, one of said ports operating independently of the ternperature of the heating element and another of said ports being rendered operative by means responsive to the temperature of the heating element.

16. In an electric cigar lighter having a holding device; an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; manually operable means for closing a circuit to said heating element; and means including pneumatic timing means having a plurality of operable ports for automatically opening said circuit, one of said ports being rendered operative by means responsive to the temperature of the heating element.

17. In an electric cigar lighter having a holding device; an igniting unit mounted on the holding device for complete removal for use, said igniting unit including a heating element; manually operable means for closing a circuit to said heating element; and means including pneumatic timing means having at least one port controlled in accordance with the temperature of the heating element for opening the circuit to the heating element.

18. An electric cigar lighter having a holder; an igniting unit mounted on the holder and completely removable therefrom for use; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; means for closing an energizing circuit to the heating element; time controlled means carried by the igniting unit and operable independently of the temperature of the heating element to open the circuit to the heating element when the heating element has attained its desired heat; and heatresponsive means acting upon the time controlled means to open the circuit should the last-named means fail.

19. An electric cigar lighter having a holder; an igniting unit mounted on the holder and adapted to be removed therefrom for use; a heating element carried by the igniting unit; means for closing an energizing circuit to the heating element; pneumatic means normally operating to open the circuit to the heating element when the lighter is ready for use; and heat-responsive means acting o-n the pneumatic means for opening the circuit to the heating element ii the firstmentioned circuit-opening means fails to properly operate, thereby preventing the heating element from burning out.

20. In a cigar lighter, a base; a manually operable member carried by the base and movable relatively thereto; means for yieldingly urging the manually operable member to one given position on the base; a heating element; means for closing a circuit through the heating element to energize same incident to movement of the manually operable member when out of said given position, said means including a contact operable by the member, and a second contact adapted to engage said first contact; means for maintaining the circuit closed when the operable member returns to said given position in response to the urging of said yielding means, including means for movably mounting one of said contacts relatively to said base and operable member; said means for closing the circuit also including means for opening the circuit incident to heating of the element.

21. In a cigar lighter, a base; a manually operable member carried by the base and movable relatively thereto; means for yieldingly urging the manually operable member to one given position on the base; a heating element; means for closing a circuit through the heating element to energize same incident to movement of the manually operable member when out of said given position, said means including a contact operable by the member, and a second contact adapted to engage said rst contact; means for maintaining the circuit closed when the operable member returns to said given position in response to the urging of said yielding means, including means for movably mounting one of said contacts relatively to said base and operable member; said means for closing the circuit also including means for opening the circuit in response to heating of the element.

Lll)

22. In a cigar lighter, a base; a manually operable member carried by the base and movable relatively thereto and withdrawable therefrom; a heating element carried thereby; means for closing a circuit through the heating element to energize same incident t0 circuit-closing movement of the manually operable member, said means including a contact operable by said member, and a second contact adapted to engage said rst contact; and means for maintaining the circuit clcsed during retrograde movement of the manually operable member, including means for mounting one of said contacts for movement relative to said base and said member.

23. In a cigar lighter, a base; a manually operable member carried by the base and movable relatively thereto and withdrawable therefrom; a heating element carried thereby; means for closing a circuit through the heating element to energize same incident to circuit-closing movement of the manually operable member, said means including a contact operable by said member, and a second contact adapted to engage said rst contact; means for maintaining the circuit closed during retrograde movement of the manually operable member including means for mounting one of said contacts for movement relative to said base and manually operable member; and means responsive to the temperature of the heating element for causing the manually operable member to complete its retrograde movement and cause the circuit to be opened.

24. In a cigar lighter, a base; a manually operable member carried by the base and movable relatively thereto and withdrawable therefrom; a heating element carried thereby; means for closing a circuit through the heating element to energize same incident to circuit-closing movement of the manually operable member, said means including a contact operable by said member, and a second contact adapted to engage said iirst contact; and means for maintaining the circuit closed during retrograde movement of the manually operable member, including means for mounting one of said contacts for movement relative to said base and said member, said means for maintaining the circuit closed being released at a predetermined point in the retrograde movement of the manually operable member.

25. In a cigar lighter, a base; a manually operable member carried by the base and movable relatively thereto and withdrawable therefrom; a heating element carried thereby; means for closing a circuit through the heating element to energize same incident to circuit-closing movement of the manually operable member, said means including a contact operable by said member, and a second contact adapted to engage said first contact; means for maintaining the circuit closed during retragrade movement of the manually operable member, including means for mounting one of said contacts for movement relative to said base and said member, said means for maintaining the circuit closed being released at a predetermined point in the retrograde movement of the manually operable member; and means for separating the contacts upon release of said means for maintaining the circuit closed to prevent unintentional reclosing of said circuit.

ARTHUR A. JOHNSON. 

